Former Conservative Member of Parliament Chris Alexander has withdrawn from the race for Toronto’s next mayor, citing the challenging path to success as a key factor in his decision. Alexander expressed that his goal was to make it a three-way race, but with only three weeks remaining, he deemed it a difficult feat to achieve.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Alexander emphasized the gravity of his choice, highlighting concerns about the fiscal responsibility, ambition, and level of detail exhibited by the other candidates in the mayoral race. Despite his departure, Alexander refrained from endorsing any specific candidate, expressing apprehensions about the city’s future if certain issues are not addressed promptly.
Addressing reporters, Alexander disclosed that he had been urged by one of the campaigns to step down, but emphasized that his withdrawal was a personal decision not influenced by external pressure. He urged voters and supporters to scrutinize the remaining candidates’ platforms and engage actively in the electoral process to shape Toronto’s future positively.
Looking ahead, Alexander hinted at a return to the private sector with a heightened interest in urban issues. While not ruling out a future political role, he indicated that another run for office in Toronto is currently not on his agenda.
A key factor in Alexander’s decision was his standing in recent polls, with a new survey by Liaison Strategies placing him a distant third, garnering only 9% support. In contrast, Chow led with 48% support, followed by Bradford with 40%. The poll, conducted from October 3 to 4 with 1,000 respondents, utilized interactive voice response technology and was weighted to align with census data.
Before entering politics, Alexander served in Canada’s foreign service and held the position of the first resident Canadian ambassador to Afghanistan. His political career included a term as MP for Ajax–Pickering and a role as the federal immigration minister under Stephen Harper. Notably, he introduced the controversial barbaric cultural practices bill in 2014.
With Alexander’s withdrawal, the mayoral race in Toronto now features 52 candidates. Bradford’s campaign has reached out to Alexander’s supporters, positioning itself as a viable alternative for those seeking a different direction for the city.
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